Variety of Hydrangea Plant Named &#39;Strada&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  plant having red/white-colored flowers and black-colored, strong stems.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Hydrangea macrophylla

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘STRADA’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangeaplant known by the varietal name ‘Strada’. The new variety wasdiscovered in 2003 in a planned breeding program in Salgen-Hausen,Germany. The purpose of the breeding program was to develop Hydrangeaswith improved flower colors and black stems. The new variety is theresult of a cross between seedling G6 (female parent, unpatented) and‘Mars’ (male parent, unpatented). The black stem color of ‘Strada’ issimilar to its female parent, but it differs from seedling G6 in flowercolor. The flowers of ‘Strada’ are similar to ‘Mars’, but its leafshape, black stem and flower color are different from ‘Mars’. The newvariety was first asexually reproduced in 2004 via propagation bycuttings in Salgen-Hausen, Germany. The new variety has been trial andfield tested in Germany and has been found to retain its distinctivecharacteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

The following traits distinguish ‘Strada’ as a new and distinct cultivarfrom other Hydrangea varieties known to the breeder:

1. Black stem color instead of green stem color;

2. Red/White flower color;

3. Frost resistance;

4. Stem strength; and

5. Mold resistance, such as botrytis.

‘Strada’ is similar to another Hydrangea variety, ‘Stramalyn’ (U.S.Plant patent application concurrently applied for), because they bothhave black stems that are strong. However, ‘Strada’ differs from‘Stramalyn’ in flower color.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph of an inflorescence of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The plants were grown in 15 cm. pots, 8 per m², in ordinarypotting soil with granulated fertilizers at a pH of 6.0. The plants weretwo years old when described. Measurements and color readings of theplants were taken in Salgen-Hausen, Germany under natural light. Colorreferences are primarily to the HTML Color Chart.

-   Plant:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days at 22° C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About 18 days at 18-20° C.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted            cutting.—About 48 weeks in a 15 cm. container.        -   Form.—Mounded.        -   Height (from media surface to top of foliage).—45.0-50.0 cm.        -   Height (from media surface to top of flowers).—50.0-55.0 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—35.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Good.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Branching habit.—Moderately-branched.        -   Trunk.—Main trunk length: 10.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 cm. Color:            Black. Texture: Shiny. Pubescence: Absent. Internode length:            1.5-2.0 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: Young: 40.0 cm. Mature: 10.0 cm.            Diameter: Young: 0.5 cm. Mature: 0.5 cm. Internode length:            7.0-8.0 cm. Texture: Shiny. Pubescence: Absent. Color:            Young: Chartreuse 7F FF 00. Mature: Dark Green 00 64 00.        -   Foliage.—Arrangement: Single. Stipules: Length: 5.0 cm.            Width: 3.5 cm. Color: Forest Green 22 8B 22. Zone: Location:            Bottom of the media. Color: Green. Size of leaf: Length:            8.0 cm. Width: 4.5 cm. Shape of leaf (generally): Young:            Dentate and serrate. Mature: Dentate and serrate. Shape of            apex: Lanceolate and attenuate. Shape of base: Round.            Texture: Shiny. Aspect: V-formed. Margin type: Ball.            Pubescence: None present. Color: Young leaves: Upper            surface: Forest Green 22 8B 22. Lower surface: Forest Green            22 8B 22. Mature leaves: Upper surface: Dark Green 00 64 00.            Lower surface: Dark Green 00 64 00. Petiole: Shape: Square.            Length: 1.5 cm. Diameter: 1.5 cm. Color: Red/White. Veins:            Color: Upper surface: Red FF 00 00/White FF FA F0. Lower            surface: Red FF 00 00/White FF FA F0.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—May through September in Ermelo,            The Netherlands.        -   Blooming habit.—Early blooming and continuous.        -   Bud.—Stage of development when described: At a budsize of            3.0 cm. Shape of cluster: Round. Diameter of cluster:            10.0 cm. Number of buds per cluster: Approximately 50.            Shape: Ball. Length: 2.0 mm. Width: 1.0 mm.        -   Inflorescence.—Shape: Round. Length: 12.0 cm. Diameter:            12.0 cm. Average number of flowers per inflorescence: 3-4.            Lastingness of an individual flower: 6 to 8 weeks.            Lastingness of an inflorescence: 6 to 8 weeks.        -   Petals.—Number per flower: 4. Color: Upper surface: Red FF            00 00/White FF FA F0. Lower surface: Red FF 00 00/White FF            FA F0. Shape: Square. Length: 1.5 cm. Width: 1.5 cm. Apex:            Lanceolate and attenuate. Base: Round. Margin: Erect.            Texture: Shiny. Tonality from a distance: Full.        -   Sepals.—Number per flower: 4. Color: Green 22 8B 22. Shape:            Lanceolate and attenuate. Length: 3.0 mm. Width: 1.5 mm.            Apex: Lanceolate and attenuate. Base: Triangular. Margin:            Erect. Texture: Shiny. Fused: No.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity: 4. Shape: Round. Length: 2.0 mm. Width:            1.0 mm. Color: Upper surface: White FF FA F0. Lower surface:            White FF FA F0.        -   Pedicels.—Length: 1.0 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm. Color: White FF            FA F0/Hot Pink FF 69 B4.        -   Peduncles.—Length: 2.0 to 3.0 cm. Diameter: 3.0 mm. Texture:            Shiny. Color: Green 00 64 00.        -   Stamens.—Number per fertile flower: 10. Filament: Length:            3.0 to 6.0 mm. Color: White FF FA F0. Anthers: Shape:            Elongated oval. Length: 2.0 to 3.0 mm. Color: White FF FA            F0. Pollen: Color: Yellow FF FF 00. Amount: Abundant.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Length: 5.0 mm. Style: Length: 5.0 mm.            Color: White FF FA F0. Stigma: Number: 1. Shape: Compact.            Color: Yellow FF FF 00. Size: 0.5 cm². Ovaries (superior):            Length: 1.5 mm. Width: 1.5 mm. Color: Yellow FF FF 00.        -   Fragrance.—None observed.        -   Disease resistance.—Tolerant to botrytis and powdery mildew.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Very good.        -   Drought tolerance.—Medium.

1. A new and distinct variety of Hydrangea plant substantially as shownand described herein.